Geoff was inducted into Perth Legacy on 24 August 1983 and was granted the esteemed honour of Reserve Membership in 2008.
Geoff served with the 2/11th Field Regiment. After service in Darwin, they moved by troopship to Lae, New Guinea, then trucked to Nadzab, in the Markham Valley. The United States 5th Air Force had developed Nadzab into a major air base. While at Nadzab, men from the regiment helped develop the base and regiment's quarters, trained in the jungle, and provided working parties to help load and unload ships at Lae.
While in New Guinea Geoff recalled the day he and his mates were taking a dip in a large water hole when the RAAF fired upon them. Geoff being a very strong swimmer “duck dived” to avoid the hail of bullets splattering around he and his mates. All survived.
Geoff was a devout Christian and loved study so much so that he decided to become a lay preacher and often took the sermon at his local church. His passion for learning was handed down to his four children; each of them has at least two degrees, something which made him very proud.
In his early years he studied and became an accountant, joined the banking profession and travelled all over Australia as a bank manager. Once he retired, he was in demand as a treasure for many organisations including his local United Church Parish, his tennis club, (he was a great tennis player) Australian Croquet Club and was President of the Nedlands Bowling Club.
He was a very good singer and loved his classical music.
To his wife Edna predeceased him. To his daughter Helen, sons Neil, Phil and Peter and families, we offer our sincere condolences.
He will be sadly missed.
Acknowledgements:
- Special thanks to Western Australia Legacy Club.
- First published in Legacy WA Bulletin September 2016.
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